IWSG: Happy 12th Anniversary

 

Happy 12th anniversary to the Insecure Writer's Support Group. In honor of the day, I posted my vintage badge. If you'd like to join us the first Wednesday of every month, GO HERE. 

Thanks to our host, Alex Cavanaugh, and this month's co-hosts:  Sonia Dogra, J Lenni Dorner, Pat Garcia, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!

This month's optional question is The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you?

I had to look it up, but my first IWSG post was on February 2, 2012 from my Run Gwen, Run blog. That was my first blog where I stumbled across the writing community and I knew I'd hit pay dirt. I knew the Universe was looking out for me because I'd just started writing, and I really needed the connection. I still do! And through these writing blogs, I found my way to the Insecure Writer's Support Group!

While looking through my old blog I noticed all kinds of blog awards. Back in the day, bloggers handed them out all over the place. The Liebtster Award, the Versatile Blogger Award, Sunshine Blog, Kreativ Blogger, One Lovely Blog Award, The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award, The Roaring Lion Blog Award. I was always so thrilled when I got one, that I started a tab just for my awards. It really showed how supportive the writing community was. 

Of course, it was a much larger community back then. I remember once that I had commented on Alex Cavanaugh's blog and accidentally subscribed to comments. OMG, I had hundreds of comments hitting my email account for days!

We also had tons of blogfests back in those days, and they were all so much fun. You'd meet lots of writers, and some who became real friends. It's how I found Angela Brown, my first critique partner (we still text and had Zoom meetings every month during Covid). 

I've met so many wonderful people through blogging and the Insecure Writer's Support Group!

What about you? 

How long have you been blogging? 

When did you join the IWSG?  

IWSG: No Post Today

NO POST TODAY!

But if you'd like to join the awesome peeps at the Insecure Writer's Support Group, GO HERE. 

See you next month. 

 

#IWSG: Not Dreaming It Up

 

Wow, we're halfway through the year already?! And it's the first Wednesday of the month which means it's time for an Insecure Writer's Support Group post. If you'd like to join the fun, you can sign up HERE. 

Thanks to our host, Alex Cavanaugh, and this months co-hosts (including me!), PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre! for supporting this month's event!

The July 5th optional question is: 99% of my ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from? 

Soooo, I'm probably the odd man out, but here it goes...

In the cozy mystery genre, punny titles are a must. I write in the paranormal sub-genre of cozy mysteries, so I have to narrow it down to include my ghostly element. I do love my ghosties! 

Rather than coming up with the story, and then the title, which seems like the logical thing to do, I do the opposite. I spend a lot of time brainstorming paranormal punny titles, like, A Scandal in Boohemia (Sherlock Holmes fans will get it) and Something Borrowed, Something Booed (from the old wedding mantra, something borrowed, something blue). For this particular series, I use the word "boo" in the titles. From there, I develop my story idea (and often more than one). 

For some reason, titling in this way tends to spark my imagination for story ideas. So, 99% of my story ideas come from thinking up titles.

Weird, huh?

Where do your story ideas come from?